Relay



Jan. 5, 1954 H. BURTON 2,665,345

RELAY Filed Feb. 16, 1951 INVEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RELAY Henry Burton, Gardena, Calif. Application February 16, 1951, Serial N 0. 211,310

4 Claims.

My invention relates to electric relays. The principal object is to provide a. slow acting relay of high efliciency to be operated by alternating or pulsating current. It is particularly suitable for relaying signals transmitted over telephone lines by the conventional magneto.

In describing my invention reference is made to the accompanying drawing. The figure shows other switch member and carries the contact point 1, in position to be contacted by point 5, when the lever I is depressed. The drum 8 with its attached wheel 9 is freely rotatable upon the pivot I0, carried on the end of lever I, as shown. Wheel 9 is of such size and weight that it resists sudden rotary movement. The weight of drum 8 and wheel 9 is counterbalanced by the weight I I. The armature I2 is supported in the field. of

magnet I3 by the leaf spring I4 so that it will vibrate, like the armature of a buzzer, whenever the magnet I3 is intermittently energized, as by alternating current. The armature I2 carries the arcuate member I5, freely oscillatable upon the pivot I6, eccentric to the arc of member I5,

which is lightly biased to the left by spring I1. When the drum 8 is in raised position the outer end of arcuate member I5 bears upon the nurled periphery of drum 8, as shown. Because the pivot I6 is on center the pull of spring I! causes the arcuate member I5 to exert some downward pressure upon drum 8, but this is slightly overbalanced by the upward pressure of leaf spring 4, so that the normal position of the elements is as shown in solid lines with the wheel 9 resting against the stop I8 and the switch points 5 and I open.

The operation of the relay shown in the figures is as follows: When magnet I3 is energized by alternating current armature i2 vibrates. downward movement of armature I2 is transmitted by the arcuate member I5 so as to urge both rotary and downward movement of drum 8 but because of the inertia of wheel 9 rotation is retarded, so that the downward movement of Each armature I 2 causes equal downward movement of drum 8 together with wheel 9 and end of its supporting lever I. In its downward motion lever I acquires some momentum and continues to move downward while the retraction of armature I2 raises the arcuate member I5 out of contact with drum 8 and it moves, responsive to spring I1, quickly to the left until it contacts drum 8 at a point farther along its arc and nearer to the sponsive to pressure of leaf spring 4, bears with motion of wheel 9 is arrested by the stop I8. Depression of lever I flexes spring 4 to close a local circuit from battery 24, over conductor 25, spring 6, points 5 and I, spring 4, conductor 26, through In addition to being slow acting and nonchattering this relay is much more eihcient than a conventional relay because it requires a smaller air gap between the armature and its magnet also because the efiect of the vibrations is cumulative to move the actuating element over a longer space thus permitting greater leverage for moving the switch member.

other circuit, rotation of the drum 8 will be sufficiently retarded by the mere inertia of wheel 9,

tion of the energizing current then other retarding means such as an eseapement, governor or the like may be added or substituted.

Another advantage of this relay is that the armature l2 may be harmonized to respond only to a current of a certain frequency to make the relay suitable for use on telephone lines using the harmonic system of selective ringing. It will be observed that the actuating lever l is responsive only to vibrations of the vibrating element viz. armature l2, with its arcuate member 15. The magnet i3 is shown here merely as one convenient means for causing the vibrations, obviously the same result would be achieved it the vibrations were caused by other means.

I claim:

1. A relay comprising in combination first and second switch elements positioned and supported so that the first switch element, biased to, a normal position, is movable into and out of cooperation withthe second switch element, a vibrator fashioned and supported for rhythmic vibration, yield ing trap 'nission means linking the first switch element with the vibrator, effective to communicate energy of vibratory novements oi the vibrator to, tl e switch eiement as pressure impulses counter to its bias, the degree of pressure being proportional to the velocity or" the vibratory movements, so that the first switch element is progressively moved in opposition to its bias incident to rhythmic vibrations of the vibrator, whenever the resultant recurring pressure impulses combine to exert substantially continuous pressure upon the first switch element counter to and greater than its bias, and the first switch element recedes responsive to its bias whenever said counter pressure is less, whereby to vide switch means responsive to variations of the rhythm or" sustained vibrations.

2. A relay comprising in combination an actuating element, suitably supported for alternate movement in a fixed path of travel between a normal and an advanced position, biased to the normal position, including a rotary member supporte the actuating element for lateral movement therewith and rotation relative thereto, a vibrator fashioned and supported for rhythmic vibration, transmission means cooperating to communicate the energy of the vibratory movements of the vibrator to the periphery of the rotary member as pressure impulses in the direction of the. advanced position of the actuating element, to urge both rotation and lateral movement of the rotary member, the degree of said urge being proportional to the velocity of the vibratory movements, means to retard rotation of the rotary member so that the actuating element is progressively moved in opposition to its bias incident to rhythmic vibrations of the vibrator, whenever the recurring pressure impulses combine to urge movement of the rotary member at a greater rate than its rate of rotation and the actuating element recedes responsive to its bias when the rotary member rotates so that the point of pressure upon its periphery overruns the pressure impulses and manifesting means responsive to the actuating element.

3. A relay comprising in combination an actuating element suitably supported for alternate movement in a fixed path of travel between a normal and an advanced position, biased to the normal position, including a rotary member sup ported by the actuating element for lateral moveluent. e ewith and r on e i e t r to a vibrator fashioned and supported for rhythmic vibration codirectional with the travel of the actuating element, including an arcuate member supported by the vibrator for vibration therewith and rotation relative thereto upon an axis eccentrio to the arc of the arcuate member, perpendicular to its plane and parallel to the axis of the rotary member, the arcuate member being positioned and biased for cotangent contact with the rotary member so that one movement of the vibrator causes pressure between the arcuate member and the rotary member to urge mutual rotation of said members and lateral movement of the rotary member and the reciprocal movement of the vibrator reduces said pressure to permit independent rotation of the arcuate member responsive to 7 its bias, means to retard rotation of the rotary member, so that the actuating element is progressively moved in opposition to its bias and the arcuate member rotates responsive to its bias incident to rhythmic vibrations of the vibrator whenever they urge the rotary member ata greater rate than its rate of rotation and the actuating element recedes responsive to its bias roe tating the arcuate member counter to its bias when the rotary member rotates so that its periphery overruns the vibrations and manifesting means responsive to the actuating element.

4. A relay comprising in combination an actuating element suitably supported for alternate movement in a fixed path of travel between a more mal and an advanced position, biased to the nor-.- mal position, including a rotary member sup,- ported by the actuating element for lateral movement therewith and rotation relative thereto, an electromagnet energized at times by alternating current, an armature suitably supported for vibration codirectional with the travel of the. actuating element responsive to the rhythmic pulsations of the electric current, including an arcuate member supported by the armature for vibration therewith and rotation relative thereto upon an axis eccentric to the arc of the arcuate member, perpendicular to its planeand parallel to the axis of the rotary member, the arcuate member being positioned and biased for cotangent contact with the rotary member, so that one movement of the armature causes pressure between the arcuate member and the rotary member to urge mutual rotation of said members and lateral movement of the rotary member and the reciprocal movement of the armature reduces said pressure, to permit independent rotation of the arcuate member responsive to its bias, means to retard rotation of the rotary member so that the actuating element is progressively moved in opposition to its bias and the arcuate member rotates responsive to its bias incident to rhythmic vibrations of the vibrator, whenever they urge movement of the rotary element at a greater rate, than its rate oi rotation and the actuating element recedes responsive to its bias rotating the arcuate member counter to its bias when the rotary member rotates so: that its periphery overruns the vibrations and mania festing means responsive to the actuating element,

ENRY BURTON;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

